New life for City Auditorium?

Wednesday

Jul 18, 2012 at 4:47 PM

The Ocala City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved beginning negotiations with a group who wishes to turn the unused auditorium at Tuscawilla Park into a home for the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and a venue for other performance and visual arts.

By Susan Latham CarrStaff writer

The sounds of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra may one day emanate from the long-silent City Auditorium.The Ocala City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved beginning negotiations with a group led by community activist and businessman Frank Hennessey, who wishes to turn the unused auditorium at Tuscawilla Park into a home for the symphony and a venue for other performance and visual arts."There will be interested people who, through the Community Foundation, will make contributions to support this effort," Hennessey, who is chairman of the Community Foundation Ocala Marion County, told the council. "There will be naming rights. There will be a professional fundraiser."Matthew Wardell, Ocala Symphony Orchestra's music director and conductor, said he thinks they could generate between 85 and 100 events the first year, which would include not only the symphony but ballet, concerts, choirs, ballroom dancing and the like. That, he said, would bring an estimated 35,000 to 45,000 people downtown and about $1.5 million in revenue for downtown businesses."It kind of makes it a place people can come to over and over and over again, and it's right downtown," Wardell said.The operating budget for what is now being called the Ocala Cultural Center is estimated at $148,500, to be paid by the performances, rentals, sponsors and concessions.Bill Nassal, who sits on the symphony board and who has built Harry Potter World, said 21 local contractors were engaged in determining the $3 million estimate to make repairs and renovate the 14,000-square-foot historic building, which was built in 1936. He said that budget includes a $75,000 operating deficit the first year and a $261,500 contingency fund. It also includes adding a marquee, audio and lighting and seating.Hennessey said the goal is to raise all the money for the renovations, and organizers will hire a professional fundraiser. But, for whatever money they cannot raise, they may ask the city to participate in a revenue bond. The debt on that bond would be paid from proceeds earned at the auditorium."It depends on how much money we raise," Hennessey said Wednesday.He said, based on conservative estimates, they believe they can break even the first year.The group would ask the city to provide the building lease and parking for 540 cars on the property formerly occupied by the city's trailer park. They also would ask the city for maintenance and landscaping support."Families, kids, music, art — it will be a very, very exciting thing," Hennessey said. "It's important to have culture that's available to our citizens. It's a great attraction to businesses that are looking to relocate."Hennessey said they believe this vision for the auditorium is "doable" through a public/private partnership, much like the Power Plant business incubator.He said they would like to use two other buildings, one as an artist incubator, where artists could explore their art, and the other as a place for artists to display and sell their work.Wardell said he believes the symphony could hold 28-30 events a year. He said he has been in contact with 14-15 performing groups."We think the need is certainly there for the space," Wardell told the council.The auditorium would have about 650-700 seats. The first 40 rows would be movable.Hennessey said the symphony would hire an events coordinator and the auditorium would serve as a centralized location for ticket sales for all the various events."We really want this to be an exciting place where people want to go," he said.Councilman Daniel Owen asked if the city would have to put out a request for proposals. Assistant City Attorney W. James Gooding III said it did not.City Manager Matthew Brower said this venture fits in with the plans for downtown. He said the city is in the process of putting together a master plan for Tuscawilla Park and staff supports the vision. So did Mayor Kent Guinn."I think this is a wonderful idea," Guinn said. "This is a great project, long overdue."Contact Susan Latham Carr at 867-4156 or susan.carr@starbanner.com.

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